4.2 or 4.7

Jake253

Junior Member
Messages
71
Hi,

So... I am looking to enter Maserati gran turismo ownership.

I have been looking at the 4.2 just because 1. They are cheaper and it’s only going to be a weekend toy 2. I’m not sure I’ll even miss the extra power...

But having spoken to a couple of current owners they are saying I’m crazy! And I should just spend that bit more and get the 4.7 as it’s a completely different car.

Can anyone offer any advice on this? Or if anyone out there with either a 4.2 or a 4.7 near to Nottingham would be willing to take me for a ride in their pride and joy I’d be very grateful! My problem is that I’m defiantly not going to be going down the dealership route as it’s just far too much money for a weekend toy for the newer models. I don’t feel I want to waste garages time by requesting test drives when I know I won’t be buying from them! Also I’m on the younger side and so I don’t get taken serious if I walk into a garage asking for a test drive, they assume I’m just going for some fun on a Saturday afternoon!

Thank you in advance

Jake
 

CatmanV2

Member
Messages
48,539
Which gearbox are you looking at? 4.7 MC will be rather different than the 4.2 ZF I suspect.
Where are you based, happy to let you have a go in mine.

<edit> Doh just read properly. I'm next in Nottingham 25/26 April, might be a bit tight time wise. Back on Sunday 28th.....

C
 

Jake253

Junior Member
Messages
71
Which gearbox are you looking at? 4.7 MC will be rather different than the 4.2 ZF I suspect.
Where are you based, happy to let you have a go in mine.

<edit> Doh just read properly. I'm next in Nottingham 25/26 April, might be a bit tight time wise. Back on Sunday 28th.....

C
Thank you for the reply!
Which engine and gearbox have you got?
 

rockits

Member
Messages
9,167
Depends on budget. If 20k or less it is 4.2 and you'll be fine with it. Any more and you need a 4.7 MC Shift but will be 26k upwards probably.
 

JJbing

Member
Messages
445
All about the specific car you're looking at, I've driven a 4.7 which felt like a dog compared to my 4.2. I've actually been to see a few 4.7's recently as I've been thinking of upgrading but found they're cheap for a reason & stuck with the devil I know. Only one I would've upgraded to is a Stradale, which felt significantly different, but at north of £50k I'd be looking at a different marque.

Maserati's aren't fast anyway, I'd say the best difference is the newer seats and avoiding the variator issues on older cars.
 

bigbob

Member
Messages
8,952
If you want an MC then it has to be a 4.7. If you want an auto and will not drive it in manual then a 4.2 will be fine but if you will use a manual function on the auto then get a 4.7.

People will tell you that the 4.7 is much faster and it is to a point but cars have moved on and both are slow compared with many modern cars - my 4.7 auto is no quicker than my wife’s Golf R.

PS Still love my GranTurismo as it is plenty fast enough for the road.
 

Wattie

Member
Messages
8,640
Just my view but save up and get a 4.7 MC. (unless you live on a hill or somewhere hilly ie Bath).
That is the full Maserati experience......anything else is like a non alcoholic cocktail.
 

Andyk

Member
Messages
61,038
Not owned either but driven a few.....The 4.7 is worth the extra. Drive both and you will want the bigger engine. Looking a prices if you want a 4.2 personally I would hunt one down for 20k as if you pay more you are getting into 4.7 territory. That extra bhp made a big difference to the car. It's the engine it should have had from the start.
 

Jake253

Junior Member
Messages
71
I don’t have a budget as such, but because it’s not going to get used all that often I didn’t want to spend more than £25k

There seems to be mixed opinions on this matter haha,

Forget you’ve ever driven either, just pretend your in my position, will drive it not very often, I also have a new born son so he will be chilling in the back seats! In my head I want to spend £25k the 4.2 is slightly cheaper the 4.7 is slightly more
Which would you honestly go for?
I keep thinking maybe just go for the 4.2, if I never drive a 4.7 I won’t know what I’m missing out on!

What year did they fix the variator issue? Iv heard this can cost £8k to have repaired at Maserati!!

Also... Iv been moaned at for saying this previously because that’s not what you buy the car for BUT.... resale value.... I see them getting cheaper and cheaper and cheaper and I don’t want to decide you know what. Actually I’ll buy a 4.7MC with slightly lower mileage for £36k then if I decide to sell it I can only sell it for £10k!
I’m a classic car man and with owning a few classics I see there values rising constantly. Loosing value isn’t something I enjoy haha although I know it’s inevitable on this kind of car I just don’t want to be looking at loosing huge amounts. Not that I plan to buy one and then sell it! But you don’t know what the future holds!

Anyway. I’ll stop rambling now!

Thank you for all the replies :)
 

Ewan

Member
Messages
6,756
If you mainly want to cruise around (even quite quickly), spend low twenties on a nice 4.2 auto, as it’ll give you all the style and feel-good factor you want from a Maserati.

But if you want something more sporty, in performance, looks and noise, go for a 4.7 MC Shift (and I suspect you’ll need to pay at least £26k if not a bit more, for a really nice one).

If anything, you need to decide on the gearbox first, then decide on the engine size. (As there is no such thing as a 4.2 MC Shift).

You don’t need an MC-Strad! (Yet )
 

Contigo

Sponsor
Messages
18,376
4.7 no contest... best box is the MC Shift. I had one for three years and loved it but needed newer so now have an MC Auto shift and whilst not as engaging it is a decent compromise with blips on the downshift and a fast change. It doesn’t give you that punch in the back like he proper F1 box.

Why have a 4.2 when you can have a 4.7 for a few K more? Just make sure the variators are done if you go for either..
 

rockits

Member
Messages
9,167
You are almost there for a Sport 4.7 MC Shift at 25k. If you are lucky you might find one at 25k for a quick or distressed sale. Can't see you ever losing more than 5k on that.

I expect earlier higher miles lesser examples 4.2's to drop to a floor of 15k with better ones upwards.

If I were in the market I'd be trying for a 4.7 Sport MC shift at 25k if I could.